VN Airlines granted license to commercial flights to U.S.

The national carrier is allowed to operate flights between Viet Nam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi and the U.S. cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco (California); New York (New York), Seattle (Washington) and Dallas - Fort Worth (Texas).

The transit flights will include stops in Taipei (Taiwan – China), Osaka and Nagoya (Japan).

Viet Nam Airlines is also allowed to operate flights to the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto via points in the U.S.

In addition, Viet Nam Airlines is also licensed to operate routes from destinations outside Viet Nam, via Viet Nam or other transit points to 25 destinations in the U.S. under codeshare arrangements. This license also allows it to operate charter flights between the two countries.

Viet Nam Airlines is the first and only airline in Viet Nam to receive such as license from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is an important step in it preparing for direct flight to the U.S. in the coming time.

Two coutries signed an air transport agreement in 2003 to allow airlines to operate direct flights between the two countries.

In 2004, Viet Nam Airlines sought permission from the U.S. to provide direct services, but the request was denied because the CAAV did not meet the safety supervision requirements set by the FAA.

The airline said it has reapplied to the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch direct flights.

In addition to strict legal requirements, a shortage of aircraft eligible to operate direct flights to the U.S. could also cause delays.

Currently, Viet Nam Airlines operates seven flights per week to cities in the U.S. under codeshare agreements with foreign carriers.

                                                                                                                            By Hoang Ha